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Golf: Matt Kuchar surges ahead of Sergio Garcia at Houston Open

Associated Press

Posted:
04/05/2014 08:12:28 PM PDT

Updated:
04/05/2014 10:30:34 PM PDT

Matt Kuchar didn't have the result he had hoped for while playing in the final pairing at last week's Texas Open.

The six-time PGA Tour winner, who closed with a final-round 75 on his way to a fourth-place finish last week, will have the opportunity to show what he learned from that disappointing finish at this week's Houston Open.

Kuchar vaulted past a struggling Sergio Garcia with a 4-under par 68 on Saturday -- overcoming windy conditions at the Golf Club of Houston to match the low round of the day and take a four-shot lead after three rounds. Kuchar stands at 15-under 201 overall heading into Sunday's final round, four shots ahead of second-round leader Garcia (73) and Cameron Tringale (69). The three will be paired together on Sunday.

"It's a nice position to have played well last week, to have been in the last group with a chance to win and again to come back this week, completely different course, and have another shot to win," Kuchar said.

The golfers went off both tees in threesomes early Saturday morning in anticipation of severe weather in the evening, a format they'll use again Sunday with hopes of avoiding a Monday finish leading into next week's visit to Augusta National.

The 24-year-old Wie, a Stanford alum, shot a bogey-free 4-under 68 to match Thompson at 10-under 206 at Mission Hills (Rancho Mirage) in the first major championship of the year.

The 19-year-old Thompson settled for a 69 after driving into a fairway bunker and missing a 3-foot par putt on the par-5 18th. She also missed two short birdie putts.

"I probably won't sleep that well," Wie said. "It's just the chance. You want something so badly. I dreamed about this all my life, so I'm just trying to not think about it so much. I'm just trying to think it's a normal Sunday. But I think that's a good thing. It's a sign that I'm really excited and I really want this."

Charley Hull (66) was two strokes back along with five-time major champion Se Ri Pak (71).